"Well, never mind," said the detective, indifferently. "I don't want to pry into your secrets, boys. All I want is to bring these bank robbers to justice, and remove suspicion from our young friend here. That's my business here to-night, and I've nothing to do with any other matters at all. I suppose you are all friends of his, or he wouldn't be among you. By the way, that was a mighty sharp trick, getting him away from the officer who had him in charge last night."
"Oh, we're fly every time, boss," replied Barney, with an air of conscious pride. "You can just bet your life on that."
Caleb Hook laughed pleasantly, and took an extra puff at his cigar.
"Frank, here's one witness to prove that you didn't rob the bank," he said, pointing carelessly to Jerry Buck.
"An' here's anoder," put in Barney. "I seen the fellers too."
"I'm sure both of them will testify to what they know, Mr. Hook," said Frank, somewhat puzzled to discern the detective's aim.
"Of course we will," exclaimed Barney. "Me an' Jerry has undertook to set you right, and we're de kind as goes de whole hog or none."
The reply came heartily, nor was the assent of Jerry Buck any less strong.
It seemed strange that these wild street Arabs had taken up his cause in the manner they had.
Strange to Caleb Hook as he sat scanning the faces of the "bats" about him. Doubly strange to Frank himself the more he turned it over in his mind.